In December 2001, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, acting pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act ("CRIPA"), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq., commenced an investigation into the conditions of confinement at the Patrick County Jail in Stuart, Virginia. ...
read more >

In December 2001, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, acting pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act ("CRIPA"), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq., commenced an investigation into the conditions of confinement at the Patrick County Jail in Stuart, Virginia.

Based on its investigation, the DOJ concluded that the conditions and practices at the Jail violated the constitutional rights of convicted inmates and pre-trial detainees. On March 6, 2003, the DOJ issued a letter advising Patrick County of minimum remedial measures it should implement in order to remedy the constitutional deficiencies. Suggested reforms related to the areas of: security and protection from harm, access to medical and mental health care, environmental health and safety, access to exercise, and access to the courts.